Crocs make killing but crops and cows count losses

By Kristy O'BrienUpdated
Mon Jan 06 11:43:02 EST 2014

Photo

Croc farming was one of the Territory's more successful agricultural industry stories for 2013.

ABC News

Crocodile farmers had a hugely successful year, cattle producers saw signs of resurgence in their trade, while many crops failed to produce good yields, proving 2013 to be a mixed bag for Territory agriculture industries.

The Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries said crocodiles helped push up the value of the 'other livestock' sector to $22 million in 2013.

Chief executive Alister Trier said the Territory now supplied 50 per cent of the world's premium-grade skins.

"We face some labour costs issues," he said.

"Our costs of production are high so we really need to compete on quality and that's what's happening in the crocodile industry and that's where they've put a lot of effort into research."

Agriculture industries in the Northern Territory contributed more than half a billion dollars to the region's economy in 2013.

Cattle production had a grim start to the year, with drought, low permit orders and plummeting property prices.

But the Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association's Luke Bowen said there was a surge when Indonesia placed a large order at the end of the year.

"It has brought some increased confidence to the industry in the north," Mr Bowen said.

Overall, pastoralists brought in more $320 million last financial year, and, while not all is solved, they're hopeful of a massive swing in 2014.

They're reliant on predictions Indonesia could release more than 700,000 cattle permits: close to the highs of 2009.

The industry is also confident emerging markets will offer lucrative opportunities.

"We've seen the live export trade into countries like Vietnam, which is also tied in with increasing demand from China, increase in areas that have supplemented the market into Indonesia," Mr Bowen said.

"Overall some of the signs are starting to be positive."

Hay producers like Colin Finke are dependant on selling feed to the cattle industry and say the upswing has made up for a 20 per cent drop in yields in 2013.

"It's always positive to see more numbers going out and it did make a difference."

Despite the resurgence in live trade, buffalo producers haven't got much of a look in.

Buffalo farmer Ernie Schluep said it had been one of the toughest years on record for the small industry.

"Well I hardly sold any buffaloes," he said.

"I didn't sell any buffaloes for export at all."

Mango producers also suffered from the bad wet season and resin canal disease.